Defense Asked To Stand Tall In Draw

June 11, 2018

By: Bryan Giese

Torrent Hold On To Point Against Fire 98

The forecast for Sunday was originally set to be sunny and warm. However the change in weather didn’t stop the amazing supporters of the Torrent women from coming out and giving them the boost they needed. After a hard fought match earlier in the week, the Torrent came home for the first time in franchise history.

The story of Sunday for the Torrent would be the play of goalkeeper, Elaina LaMaccia. The Fire 98 would start the first ten minutes of the match by pressuring the Torrent on every touch. LaMaccia would face a number of shots, which she was positioned for perfectly, making her job look effortless. She would weather the early Fire storm until her team was able to figure out how to break the pressure.

In the 29 minute, forward Aubrey Krahn would transition a well placed pass on the right touchline into the first goal of the match. She would move the ball up the wing with speed, breaking down the backline of the Fire before she would place a cross to teammate Haley Johnson on the far post. Johnson played the ball to the middle of the box and right footed a shot passed the Minnesota goalkeeper.

The scoring play was preceded by one of LaMaccia’s toughest saves of the first half. In the 23 minute the Torrent would have a throw in deep in their defensive zone. After the ball was miss played in the middle of the pitch, the Fire would rip a shot from just above the box. LaMaccia would dive to her left to corral the ball that was marked for the lower corner of the goal.

Second Half Action

In the second half the Fire would continue with maintaining possession and the flow of the match. The Torrent would keep a one goal lead however. In the 66 minute, the Torrent came dangerously close to increasing that lead. Johnson would play a cross that would bounce to the feet of Jordyn Rolli. The Torrent forward would put her shot passed the Fire goalkeeper but would find the right post. The ball would rebound out for a long distance shot by the Torrent that would be corralled by the Fire keeper this time.

The Fire98 pressure would eventually break down the Torrent backline. In the 73 minute the Fire would win the ball in the midfield. Their right back would take the space she was given before servicing a ball perfectly beyond the Torrent backline for the tap in equalizer.

LaMaccia would be asked to come up big again late in the match to keep the score even. A shot off the post by the Fire was headed for an easy rebound before LaMaccia denied the attempt. With Minnesota controlling possession for most of the day, the Torrent goalkeeper played a huge role in the outcome.

Milwaukee would continue to battle throughout the match, which would end in a 1-1 draw. The backline play of the Torrent, anchored by Captain Kelli Swanson would be the difference in the match. The Fire came at the Torrent with three solid scoring options up top. But in the end, Swenson and her teammates withstood the pressure and came away with a point in the standings.